South Africa is home to plenty of must-visit attractions. Some are charming and fascinating, while others are simply strange and unbelievable. Indeed, some of the strangest attractions worth visiting can be found right here in Mzansi.
When exploring the country and all it has to offer, paying a visit to some simply strange attractions is an interesting and worthwhile experience.
Here are a few of South Africa’s simply strange attractions which you will fall in love with:
The Big Pineapple
Picture: Wikimedia Commons. Credit – NJR ZA
Are you a pineapple lover? Visit the nearly 17-meter-tall pineapple which is the biggest pineapple building in the world. It is located just outside of Bathurst in the Eastern Cape and is set amidst agricultural land that mostly produces pineapples.
Legend has it that farmers were unable to successfully grow any crops in the area until they started planting pineapples in the 1980s. To honour the fruit that brought in the cash flow, the community built The Big Pineapple.The inside of the building houses a museum and a number of interesting pineapple products.
Sudwala Dinosaur Park
Visit the Sudwala Dinosaur Park to journey back to a time when dinosaurs roamed the earth.
Walk between life-size models of pre-historic amphibious reptiles, dinosaurs, pre-historic mammals and even pre-historic humans. The models were realistically created by Jan van Zijl, the artist behind the black wildebeest on South Africa’s old 2c coin.
The park was launched in 1972 and officially opened in 1977. It was named after Mr. P.R. Owen (1900 – 1972) who was responsible for constructing the road up to the Sudwala Caves in the late 1950’s.
The Owl House
Source: Facebook / @The Owl House
Located in the village of Nieu-Bethesda, the Owl House is a whimsical home of concrete and ground glass sculptures by the late Helen Martins.
The simply strange attraction serves as a testament to her extraordinary vision and impressive creativity. It is also where art and history beautifully collide, telling the story of a woman who lived a very sad life. A visit to The Owl House is likely to stir your soul and captivate your imagination.
Upside Down House
Picture: Upside-down House
The Upside-down house is a quirky attraction in Hartebeestpoort, where you can let your creative juices flow. Not only has the house been built on its side and is slightly tilted, but the furniture has also been placed where it would be if the house was right side up.
Visit the weird and wonderful attraction to meander through it while you figure out its strange formation. Who knows? You might find the best location for an impeccable Instagram post.
The Shoe
Picture: Alamy
‘There was an old woman who lived in a shoe, she had so many children she didn’t know what to do.’
Designed by artist Ron van Zyl in 1990, The Shoe is where the nursery rhyme and story of the old woman comes to life. The attraction is complete with furniture items including a bed, dressing table, kitchen, and fireplace.
Moreover, you can visit the tea-garden restaurant and the little shop while you’re there.
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